For now, the remaining 33 locations are still operating, but insiders suggest that more closures could be on the horizon if the boycott continues to gather steam.

In the meantime, social media users have been quick to poke fun at the restaurant’s situation. Memes of empty Primanti locations, complete with untouched sandwiches gathering dust, have gone viral, with captions like “Primanti’s: Now serving political bias with every bite” and “Sorry, no fries for conservatives.”

The fallout from the J.D. Vance incident at Primanti Bros. serves as a stark reminder that, in today’s polarized political climate, no place is safe from the culture wars—not even your favorite sandwich shop. What started as a simple misunderstanding between a manager and a political candidate has morphed into a national boycott with real consequences.

For now, Primanti Bros. is left picking up the pieces, hoping to weather the storm and return to what it does best: making sandwiches that can stop hearts but never minds. Whether they can survive the great boycott of 2024 remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: this isn’t just about sandwiches anymore—it’s about where you stand, both politically and in line for a pastrami on rye.